Licia Corbella..........

"The hope that peace and democracy brings to Afghans makes us all safer and a recent poll, done by the BBC, found Afghans are among the most hope-filled people on this planet -- that despite the fact most live in utter poverty.

Thanks largely to the work of our soldiers, children are back in school, wells have been dug, roads built, a Constitution which guarantees equal rights to women (though they have a long way to go before that becomes a reality) and free elections have been held."